TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) - Christopher Scholtes, a Marana father, accepted a plea deal this morning, avoiding a trial for the first-degree murder and child abuse charges related to leaving his 2-year-old daughter in a hot car.

Scholtes pleaded guilty to the murder of his daughter, Parker, in Pima County Superior Court. Despite his plea, he will remain out of custody for two more weeks as part of the deal.

"Mr. Scholtes, anything you’d like to say for yourself? You plead guilty…" said Chorus Nylander, News 4 Tucson’s Chief Investigative Reporter, who was in the courtroom.

Scholtes accepted a plea deal that reduces his charges from first-degree to second-degree murder with a domestic violence enhancement and a charge of child abuse. He will serve more than 20 years but no more than 30 years i

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